British GT
Qualifying
Qualifying isn’t normally thetime to be setting up the car for the race, but the typical British weather has
meant most teams are having to do just that.
Friday practice was a total washout with heavy rain descending upon the Northamptonshire circuit. As has
been the norm this season, Team LNT finished the day fastest in the wet conditions – the wet tyres and setup
really suiting the Panoz.
Team LNT were due to test some newissue slick tyres from Avon (the championship tyre supplier) a week ago
but rain hampered the opportunity to test them. The day’s rain also prevented the testing going ahead.
Saturday arrived rather damp and foggy - and with the day’s proceedings delayed due to visibility, the GT
practice session was reduced by 15 minutes to just 1 hour.
As the weather improved, so did the track; intermediate tyres at first until the track was good enough for slick
dry weather tyres. Championship rivals Scuderia Ecosse then putting in a fastest time on the final lap of the
session of 1:25.908
So by the time qualifying came, the sun was shining and with the forecast set to remain dry for the race, this
was to be the first real opportunity to get a ‘feel’ for the car in the dry.
As per Donington Park back in May, the normal two 1-hour races are this weekend merged into one 2-hour
race. Qualifying still consists of two 15-minute sessions; the fastest times combining to make up the grid.
The surprise in the first qualifying session was Rollcentre’s Mosler finishing up on provisional pole with a
1:23.439 – apparently sporting the A11 AVON tyres the Ferrari runs on.
Tim Mullen was out in the Ferrari who ended up clocking in the second fastest time early on, and let Chris
Niarchos do his compulsory three laps at the end of the session (this week’s qualifying being driver
unrestricted as to who runs and when). Luke Hines in his Panoz ended the first stint in third place.
Equipped with new AVON A55’s (the ‘usual’ tyres for Team LNT), Tom Kimber-Smith takes the Panoz out for
the second qualifying session, improving the lap time but not enough to move the Panoz higher up than third
on the grid. Tim Mullen puts the Ferrari on pole and Rollcentre maintain second.
“I couldn’t push too hard, because we have to start tomorrow’s race on the same tyres you qualify on and they
have to last at leased half an hour” said Kimber-Smith.
Even Sunday morning’s warm-up was damp. It was raining hard when the Team initially arrived at the circuit,
but the morning weather forecast on the TV did say the rain would clear up… Pity…!
Luke Hines ran the 10 minute session on intermediates at first, but then changing to wets – just to scrub the
tops off in case it does rain for the race…
…Of course, when you want it to rain… Bright sunshine and warm temperatures meant the umbrellas and the
wet tyres remained in the garages.
The Race
Luke Hines started the race with Ian Flux and Chris Niarchos taking their seats for the race start in the Mosler
and Ferrari respectively.
A great start by Flux leapfrogged him into the lead, but a poor start by Niarchos put him down to 4th place –
allowing Hines (in second) to open up a 15 second gap over the first few laps between himself and his rival.
The #45 Ascari was in third place in his unrestricted Invitation Class car and comfortably keeping up with
Hines.
The #71 Prosport GT2 car that joined the grid for today came into the pits to retire. On lap 16, Hines spins
and loses his advantage he had built up over the Ferrari – it seems after the Prosport had deposited fluid on
the track.
Back on a charge, the young 24yr old racer soon caught back up with Niarchos who was taking it easy in the
Ferrari. Another GT2 car drops out of the race and into the gravel – the #6 Monaro and with it, the Ginetta. A
safety car has to come out to recover the well-sunken cars.
Just within the pit window, Scuderia Ecosse come it to change drivers – but it’s a bit early for fuel yet. But
while the safety car is going around, and the field going slower, the Scottish-based team put their faster driver
in the seat – Tim Mullen.
‘Fluxie’ also pitted under the safety car on lap 77, but Hines remained out there and nipped into the lead when
racing recommenced at the end of lap 28 and 45 minutes into the race.
Mullen also came into the pits just before the safety car came back in to take on fuel and new tyres.
Four laps later, and Hines came in. Unfortunately, had he have come in during the safety car period, the Panoz
would have run out of fuel before the end of the race.
So, in the pits came the Panoz, crew ready and waiting for the long, painfullyslow stop. Including two guest
crew brought in (the rest of the ‘usual’ LNT crew were in Jarama). The procedure was this: Luke out of the
car, then the fuel hose could go on (for 30 seconds). Tom is then able to climb aboard and get strapped in.
Meanwhile, the rest of the crew are poised and ready to spring into action on the wheels – but the car has to
be stationary for a minimum of 90 seconds before any action can be taken. The wheel-changing procedure
takes about 15 seconds and then the car’s dropped and ready for off.
Then Kimber-Smith was out on track and now on fresh rubber and a full of tank of juice to take him to the
end, but coming out on track 45 seconds behind Tim Mullen. Pushing hard, the 21-year old calved his way
through the GT3 and GTC field passing a car on almost every corner. Kevin Riley driving his Mosler separated
the two GT2 championship leaders, but Kimber-Smith honing in on him and passing on lap 48.
Tim Mullen was further down the track to catch up – 48 seconds away.
Unfortunately, combined with the traffic and tyres that went off after 15 laps, Mullen was able to extend his
lead to over one minute by the end of the race – Kimber-Smith settling for another second place, Ian Flux
(back aboard the Mosler) crossed the line in third place.
So what does this mean for the championship? It means the battle is continuing to Magny Cours next month.
And this battle over isn’t over until the final chequered flag is waved. Team LNT are now four points behind
Scuderia Ecosse. Will the French GTs play a part in this exciting GT2 climax? We’ll find out on October 22nd…